University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

What should every freshman at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign know before they start?

Michele

Finding the perfect college can be overwhelming. There are so many crucial components to consider and so much at stake! Should your campus be urban or rural, large or moderate-sized, socially or strictly academically-focused? Campus tours can offer positive insight to these concerns. If possible, talk to current students; afterall, they know first-hand what the college is all about. Once you have completed the application process and arrive at your college of choice, embrace the extensive list of opportunities available. By all means, live in the dorms! If you can look past the some-what questionable food, they provide an incredible social network and expose you to services that you never even knew existed. Take advantage of the variety of courses offered; not only will they expand your horizons, but also lead you to find your true passion. Interact with your teachers and gain valuable connections. Become involved in campus activities. While being a wonderful supplement to your college experience, they are valuable for fast-approaching career interviews. Look to career centers for support as the pressure of job searching builds up. By following these suggestions, your experience will be memorable and your future will be great.

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Christine

Explore all the available options and - very importantly - visit the campus. If you can observe classes, do it. Walk around and see the sights. Once you get there, get involved. Find a club for something you're interested in, join a music ensemble, whatever. Getting involved nearly always helps you both to get adjusted, and to make some lasting friends on campus who share your interests. And if you live in a dorm, ALWAYS try to make friends with your roommate. They can make life fun or completely difficult.

Alessandra

Let?s be honest- the values of leadership, initiative, and respect are not typically found on many college syllabuses. The best advice I have for students looking for the right college for them is to go to a school where they would learn the most outside of the classroom. Being at a school with 40,000 students, ten years at college wouldn?t be enough for me to take advantage of all of the opportunities here. From leading an Alternative Spring Break trip on AIDS issues, helping teen moms with their childcare, and being the president of Allies for a Women?s Center, being busy is an understatement! Yet only being defined as a student was never satisfying to me; one of the titles that I am most proud to call myself is a volunteer. The amount of sociological understanding I have gained through advocacy work and service is worth the tuition price alone! In conclusion, there isn?t another time in life where you will have so many chances to challenge yourself. Get out of your comfort zone - you will not only be a better college graduate, but a better citizen of the world.

Austin

Be sure to find a school that best fits your personality. Besides gaining knowledge that will help you attain the career you're striving for, you can form meaningful relationships that will last you a lifetime. In addition to gaining a great education, you can also have a fulfilling social life. These can be some of the best days of your life. Take advantage of all the opportunities available to you on campus and don't be afraid to open yourself up to new and different ideas.

Stephanie

Think about the size of the school, because it will reflect the size of your classes. Think about how important individual attention is to you. Think about location and transportation. Will you have any? Are there cities near by? What can you do for entertainment and how can you get there? How far away from home do you want to be? Think about academically, what do you want to gain from your experience? What kind of credentials do you want to have? How important is a school's ranking to you? Once you're there, get involved. Don't be afraid to talk to new people and make new friends.

Nick

First get career couseling to find out what it is that you should/want ot major in. Then form there decide which college is best for you. Knowing what you want to do helps take prevent the feeling of 'why am I here?' and helps motivate you to do your best.

Luke

Come to Illinois! Or consider a list of colleges I'm sure will offer a comparable experience. Or try someplace completely different. You've got a whole lot of choices to make, but there are some criteria which prove helpful when narrowing it down. Financially, what are you prepared to spend? Community or Junior colleges are a viable option not to be brushed aside. Nevertheless, it's hard to top the experience of attending one of the state behemoths-- football games, sprawling campuses, well-known and respected faculty to name a few of the perks. Small private schools might provide a more intimate college experience. If money is not an issue, it's not a bad idea to consider what kind of career you're interested in and go from there. There are dozens of lists out there quantifying the strengths and specialties of most schools. And most importantly of all, visit the campuses you're considering. You wouldn't want to be stuck at a school for four years when you can't stand the look and feel of the campus environment. Besides, many high schools allow you to skip an afternoon for a college visit. Good Luck!

Bryan

I thought the prize was a monetary reward rather than scholarship, but that's ok, if you give it to me, I'll enroll in an MBA program. Hope my insight was helpful. As much as I regret my major, I am working at a good job and the money isn't that bad, it's just to bad it doesn't have anything to do with my major.

Kyle

You should take your time in researching schools and find one that is right for you. Once in college, never miss opportunities that arise. Take classes seriously from day one and try to do your best, because you don't want to look back as a senior and regret your choices. Finally, enjoy yourself - it's college.